Searching for knowledge by uncovering the past

– So often as we enter the holiday season we are inundated with
requests for some form of charity from groups near and far. Very often
we are hesitant, not knowing exactly how that donation is to be spent
and whether or not “good works” will come of our donation. It is a
luxury then to be able to donate to those nearer to home and witness
first hand those good works.

For those that have broader horizons in their wish
to donate to good works, there is a long list of groups of people doing
things in the far corners of this world that further our knowledge of
the progress of mankind throughout history. To those that are
interested, money can be donated to support such good works all over the
world. Many are reputable and connected to University’s and College’s
which send researchers far and wide to scour the planet in search of
knowledge which can make the world a better place. Often these groups
are underfunded and in constant need for donations which will aid them
in the quest for knowledge.

For the past eight seasons, this group has gathered on this site to
preserve and learn from the discoveries made. During this particular
season, I have the privilege of being related to one of the members of
this group who has given her time to further the rewards gained from
learning about the past at this particular archaeologic site. Because
Egyptology in this area has not the claim to fame that site’s in and
around Cairo, the three Great pyramids, the Sphinx, or even the temple
complex at Abu Simbel, money to fund the season’s digs must come from
the charity of people who wish to contribute to a very worthwhile cause
that so often goes unrecognized and overlooked.

What is unique about this particular group is that
they will continue to do good work with whatever comes to them and are
grateful for any small amount people wish to contribute. They, the
Directors, Maria Nilsson and John Ward, keep donors up to date on
progress made at the site as well as acknowledging each donation with a
personal message. For those that wish to donate, they have a web page, friendsofsilsila.com, or if you just want to live vicariously through their blogspot, it can be found at gebelelsilsilaepigraphicsurveyproject.blogspot.com.
This is a unique opportunity for those that wish to make a donation in a
non traditional way, and know that you are contributing to the
knowledge of the world and a very good cause. And, yes, my wife and I
have made a small contribution, feel better for it and feel more like
citizens of the world, many of which visit our small corner of the
world.

Thank you dear Samuel and to your entire family, and all amazing people who continues to show their support and encouragement! The Gebel el Silsila Project is deeply thankful and forever grateful!

some of this year's team members, including some of our amazing workers!

Donations to the Gebel el Silsila Project goes directly towards employing more workers, which allows the team to discover more monuments and tombs in the Necropolis, and study more ground breaking information about the ancient past at Gebel el Silsila!

The project is conducted in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and the department for archaeological quarries.

Kung. vitterhetsakademin

Mission Statement (in brief)

Known to the ancients as Khenu or Kheny, the ancient site of Gebel el Silsila features ancient Egypt’s largest series of sandstone quarries running for c. 2.5 km on both sides of the Nile. These are preserved with a great variety of graffiti including prehistoric pictographs, hieroglyphic, hieratic, demotic, Greek and Coptic inscriptions and figurative representations dating from Old Kingdom and throughout all subsequent ancient periods, and possibly Egypt’s largest collection of quarry marks. The main objective of this project is to document Gebel el Silsila’s archaeological material including epigraphic, archaeological, geological and topographical material in order to reach a better understanding of the area, its (visiting) people.